The Arkansaw traveler., 1887-11-26


 claims the hand of wealth and beauty should first give some credentials of his future success"
 Mir. Templeton delivered himself of this opinion in an ordinary colloquial manner, but it was evident he spoke with some personal feeling, as his daughter had spoken on the same subject before him.
 Walter, who in silence had followed the conversation with quickened in- terest, was quite unnerved by MT. Templeton's Interpretation. He thought that he must be deadly pale, he felt so sick at heart. This was the answer of the old, matter fact man of the world to the generous and fervent sentiments of the daughter.
 MT. Templeton's summing up meet ing with general concurrence, the conversation soon drifted into other channels. Walter was again thrown into the agonies of doubt and despair. He sat silent and moody, much to the surprise of his acquaintances at the table, asking of himself whether after all these men were not right and May mistaken. Should he not do some- thing to show himself worthy of her before binding her to him by the bonds of marriage? He, briefiess barrister without settled income for a week, had no business to ask MT. Templeton to give his daughter into his keeping. He ought to give proof of his worthiness of the trust. These arguments would doubtless have weighed little with him were it not for the knowledge which MT. Tem- pleton's words forced upon him, that until he made a better start on the road to success he could not marry May with the consent of her frther.
 He returned to his chambers with out having breathed word to the stockbroker of his love for May.
 There ensued during the next tort- night conflict in his mlnd between the dictates of love and what he con- ceived to be the dictates of duty. He resolved to think of marriage with May as prize which must be won with Homeric effort and Spartan sac- rifice. He attended the courts more regularly, and penetrated the myster- ies of civil law more assiduously than ever.
 MT. Brazenface, the young leader of forty who has made name in a cause cetebfe two years ago, and was now overloaded with briefs, sat in court in state of considerable anxiety. He was engaged for the defense in cer- tain case, and he was anxious to know when it was likely to be reached, as he had case in another court. It was, therefore, with much satisfaction that he heard the counsel addressing the court enlarge the area of his case. When the council came to enumerate the witnesses he intended calling, MT. Brazenface's pefect peace of mind was assured.
 "You might hold my brief till I re- turn, Digby," he whispered. "There are some points in it which may in- terest you. I shall be back before lunch."
 Walter prepared himself for study ing the brief, and felt grateful to MT. Brazenface for giving him the oppor- tunity of doing so. He had made the successful pleader's acquaintance in this court, and had more than once been assisted by his advice.
 His eyes had only just lighted on the first page when he stopped short in surprise by reading the name, Richard Templeton. He read on with great interest. Gradually he came to understand that the case arose out of stock exchange transaction, in which MT. Templeton, acting as broker for country squire, was alleged to have wrongfully detained certain meneys. Walter was fairly well versed in the matter of stocks and shares, having at one time looked to them as the easiest means of making the fortune with which to win fame. He could easily | see that the charge, though a serious one, arose out of the blunder of the squire's, and could be easily rebutted. | He was thinking of the easy victory MT. Brazenface would get, of the crushing way in which he would cross- examine, and the "Sporus and butter fly" character of his reply, when he was startled to hear a clarion voice pronounce "Lumpkin Uersus Temple ton" Counsel had just concluded a confab, resulting in abrubt termin- ation to the case which MT. Brazen- face had seen commenced with such complacency.
 Walter anxiously looked round the court for the missing counsel. He was nowhere to be seen. The situation was an awkward one. Owing to the little importance attached to the case only MT. Brazenface had been engaged for the defense, and he was not here. Walter cast another hurried glance around the court, and this time saw not Mir BraZenface but Mr. Temnle-